About the job

Job summary

Are you looking for an opportunity to apply your analytical skills in direct support of the Royal Navy (RN) front line? The RN Maritime Capability, Trials and Assessment (MCTA) organisation is looking for a proactive engineer to join our highly professional workforce to go onboard ships in harbour and at sea, around UK and occasionally overseas, to assess and assure capability of the marine systems in readiness for operations worldwide.

MCTA is a fast-paced team of Military and Civil Servants led by a Royal Navy Captain, who face a constantly evolving vista of work carrying out assessment and assurance of equipment on aircraft carriers, warships, and smaller military vessels.

MCTA’s Marine Systems Group, specifically the Machinery Trials and Assessment Unit (MTAU), is responsible for the delivery of marine systems trials across new build, regenerating (from refit/upkeep) and In-Service surface ships, from aircraft carriers to landing craft. Trials range from power generation & distribution, propulsion, supporting auxiliaries to domestic services which in their entirety make up a significant portion of a ship’s availability and capability.

This role is mainly, but not exclusively, focussed on the delivery of trials for Royal Navy vessels. The scope of the role runs from researching marine systems design and operating parameters, writing trials documentation, undertaking trials, analysing data and writing up trial reports. There is also a role in providing advice and guidance on the requirement for and conduct of trials.

This role would suit applicants of an analytical / technical background with a curiosity in maintaining operational capability standards of marine systems.

The position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working.  This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements. 

Job description

This role delivers the duties of an MCTA Marine Systems Trials Officer for all relevant system related activities, including the maintenance of professional standards through training and development to deliver Operational capability assessments as required by NCHQ, DE&S and the Naval Authority and Technology Group. This needs to be supported by an ability to work independently along with good leadership and interpersonal skills that have been demonstrated in a team working environment. This is an exciting and rewarding role that also provides the opportunity for personal development and the ability to improve and progress your career.

Whilst based in Victory Building in Portsmouth, the role is required to visit other locations around the UK and on occasions abroad to conduct assurance visits and progress meetings. Weekend working and nights away at sea and in other locations can be expected.

The key tasks for this role are:

On behalf of key customers within Navy Command and Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) to provide capability assurance by evaluating and assessing marine propulsion and auxiliary systems with a particular focus on RN vessels but also other Surface Ships as required. To act independently as directed.

Trials to be conducted in accordance with the current Shipping Regulations, Defence Standards, Classification Society Rules, Books of Reference and Operating Manuals, through the conduct of:

1. Factory acceptance tests.
2. New build trials.
3. Pre and post upkeep trials.
4. Large repair trials.
5. Ship performance assessment trials.
6. Analysis of Ship’s Staff conducted trials reports.
7. Final Installation Inspections (FII) on completion of alterations and additions (A&A).

Key activities include:

1. Production of defect lists.
2. Compilation, assessment and commentary on the Main Propulsion Installation Report Form (RN Form S346).
3. Writing of reports and signals.
4. Management of administration for trials including travel, accommodation, and overtime authorisation requirements in line with current MCTA processes to support trials.

To update trials requirements and procedures following trials experience and studies of specifications, drawings and machinery operating instructions.

To provide advice on the content and order of Harbour and Sea Trials programmes to Platform and Equipment Authorities, Ship Builders, Upkeep Managers and Ship’s Staff.

To provide feedback and dialogue on marine engineering matters arising from the conduct of trials to the appropriate equipment and platform desks in DE&S, support teams, and industry partners.

The post holder is encouraged to have an informed opinion on matters that affect MCTA and the Directorate as a whole and support initiatives to improve the conduct and cost of business activities.

Person specification

You will already hold at least a HNC (Adv Cert) in engineering, such as Marine Engineering, or demonstrable experience of working in a Marine Engineering environment.

You will need to hold a Full UK Manual Driving licence and be willing to drive MOD provided vehicles.

The successful candidate must be medically fit to conduct trials at sea. An ENG1 medical is required but can be conducted on completion of a successful interview.

The successful applicants will ideally have, or be willing to work towards, developing their knowledge on all equipment associated with Combat and Information Systems.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £35,290, Ministry of Defence contributes £9,528 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Candidates will be required to provide a statement of suitability. (Word count: 250) 

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Communicating and influencing
• Making effective decisions

At interview, you will be assessed against the following Success Profiles Behaviours:

• Working together
• Managing a Quality Service
• Making effective decisions
• Communicating and influencing
• Changing and improving

This vacancy will require selected applicants to attend an interview in Victory Building in Portsmouth.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk . 

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical.  

The role currently being advertised has not been assessed as business critical and is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn. 

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.